Category Archives: Beer Reviews

Pirate Noir – Prairie Artisan Ales – Tulsa, OK

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IMG_3686Brew:  Pirate Noir

Brewery:  Prairie Artisan Ales

Style:  Imperial Stout ABV 12%

Pirate Noir pours a golden chocolaty brown, the nose imparts malt and rum.  Despite the high ABV, it is incredibly smooth and the taste of alcohol is not overpowering.  Notes of rum, vanilla, and cane sugar create a pleasant sweetness that is pleasing to the senses and subtle.  This brew is a luxurious experience and the woodiness and sweetness that comes from the Jamaican rum barrels is the pièce de résistance.  Undertones of coconut, toasted oak, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and candied nuts are also detectable and in the right mood you will find a flavor of your own. Prairie is a brewery that has been turning heads lately, their “artisan” ales are just that: painstakingly constructed conceptions of creativity that elevate flavors and the beers that encompass them. Well done gentlemen.

Seller Description: Pirate Noir is our Jamaican rum barrel aged imperial oatmeal stout. This beer takes our already delicious Prairie Noir and adds intense notes of vanilla, coconut, and rum to the beer.

Delirium Tremens – Brouwerij Huyghe – Belgium

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Brew:  Delirium Tremens

Brewery:  Brouwerij Huyghe

Style:  Belgian Strong Pale Ale ABV: 8.5%

Pours a clear deep golden yellow with a hint of orange, head is white and laces on the edge of the glass.  The nose is light but enticing with hints of Belgian yeast, spice, and citrus.  The taste is an extremely well tempered Belgian yeastiness surrounded by notes of banana, apple, peach, orange, and pepper. It is truly a pleasure to drink and has a sliky body with velvety lush texture. The taste is complex but extremely well-rounded and pleasing to the senses, it’s not hard to visualize sipping this beer in a Belgian “sound of music” style meadow during spring. Delerium Tremens is the classic of all classics as far as traditional Belgian beers go. This libation truly will remind you of the first great sip of beer you ever had.

Seller Description: Pale blond, the fine and regular effervesce ensures a fine and stable head. Slightly malty, a nice touch of alcohol, spicy. Feels like the sound shot of alcohol is igniting the mouth. In reality the tongue and palate are warmed. The taste is characterized by its roundness. The aftertaste is strong, long-lasting and dry bitter.

Here Gose Nothin’ – Destihl Brewery – Bloomington, IL

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Brew:  Here Gose Nothin’ : Wild Sour Series (Can)

Brewery:  Destihl Brewery

Style:  Gose  ABV 5%

Here Gose Nothin’ pours a golden orange darker than the typical gose.  The nose is fruity and floral with citrus notes and provocative hints of lactobacillus that make the mouth water before the first sip.  The taste is tart, refreshing, and dominated by citrus flavors of lemon and lime.  The tart sourness and sweetness is balanced by the perfect level of saltiness and spices.  Like Here Gose Nothin’, Many sour beers undergo a “wild” fermentation process meaning the yeast that forms the acidity comes from the local environment.  This natural process creates an acidity and a flavor that is unique to each brew and each batch. This beer undoubtedly has its own unique character and also possesses a refreshing drinkability.  Here Gose Nothin’ is a ‘wildly’ successful take on a gose and it is truly a triumph in the world of Sour Beer.  Looking forward to the rest of the Wild Sour Series…

Seller Description:  Our Leipzig-Style Gose undergoes a spontaneous fermentation, similar to Belgian-style Gueuze/Lambic beers, and exhibits a complexity of acidic flavor and aroma contributed by wild yeast lactic fermentation. Lemon, lime and other citrus-like qualities are present in aroma and on the palate, which is balanced by the spicy character of added coriander and a mineral-mouthfeel from added sea salt.

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Divergent – Rivertown Brewing Company – Cincinnati, OH

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Brew:  Divergent (On draft)

Brewery:  Rivertown Brewing Company

Style:  Berliner Weissbier ABV 3.8%

The nose is fruity with the scent of apple, lemon and a light yeastiness.  A sip immerses the drinker in flavors of apple, pear, citrus, very light hoppiness and malt, and that signature almost vinegary lactobacillus tartness.  These tastes become more apparent as the beer warms, the fruit flavors themselves are very tart and reminiscent of fruit rind. Light in carbonation this Berliner has extremely refreshing qualities that yield to a crisp tartness making the mouth water and the lips pucker. This beer is ‘Divergent’ from the traditional clear, concise, and straightforward Berliner Weiss style because it possesses full bodied fruit flavors and a sour funk that is anything but ordinary. The Berliner Weissbier style in general tends to have lower ABV but delivers on taste and a unique experience.  Divergent is true to the style in this sense and takes the refreshing qualities of a Berliner further with its flavors and depth. For a tart, flavorful, throught-provoking experience reach for a Divergent.

Seller Description: Flappers have always been a symbol of change and rebellion, harkening to a time where challenging the norm was all the rage. This beer embraces and celebrates that vibrant, relentless spirit. Representing the rebirth of a brewery and the reclamation of a dream, this beer is a completely contradictory experience where the wort is soured, the hops are minimized and the beer is filtered to be brilliant. Crisp, delicate, cutting edge, complex and tart, pouring a bright citrine with a nose of gently soured rind fruit, this beer is exactly what is needed when looking for a little something…Divergent.

Grapefruit Sculpin IPA – Ballast Point Brewing Company – San Diego, CA

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IMG_2730Brew:  Grapefruit Sculpin IPA

Brewer:  Ballast Point Brewing Company

Style:  American IPA  ABV 7%

Ballast Point’s Grapefruit Sculpin IPA pours an golden amber with an off-white head. The aroma is packed with grapefruit and a bouquet of tropical floral fragrance. The taste is also ruled by grapefruit and the hops are much less pronounced than in the traditional brew. The grapefruit is mouthwatering but, instead of being tart outright, it is sweet like a pomelo or a very ripe grapefruit. Sweet malty flavors and notes of caramel mingle in the background and contribute to the burst of grapefruit and tropical fruit. For lovers of the traditional Sculpin IPA this is a treat and an exploration in a new direction. Expertly infusing grapefruit flavors without too much sweetness was the perfect way to complement the original.  Because Grapefruit Sculpin was made with such care and attention to taste, beer drinkers everywhere are praising it instead of raising an eyebrow to a beer that couldn’t possibly measure up to its namesake.  Ballast Point has done it again and I am sure we haven’t seen the last experimentation with the legendary Sculpin IPA.

Seller Description:  Our award-winning IPA, with a citrus twist.  Our Grapefruit Sculpin is the latest take on our signature IPA. Some may say there are few ways to improve Sculpin’s unique flavor, but the tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly complements our IPA’s citrusy hop character. Grapefruit’s a winter fruit, but this easy-drinking ale tastes like summer.

Sculpin IPA – Ballast Point Brewing Company – San Diego, CA

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Brew:  Sculpin IPA

Brewer:  Ballast Point Brewing Company

Style:  American IPA  ABV 7%

Ballast Point Sculpin pours a light amber with a fluffy white head.  The aroma is hoppy with hints of citrus and grapefruit.  Sculpin IPA epitomizes a great IPA and is widely accepted as the quintessential American IPA.  The taste is smooth and refreshing but with a hoppy bite and floral overtones. Emanating from the hops are notes of fruit as well as a slight background maltiness. Within the fruit flavors are tastes of citrus (grapefruit, orange, and lemon), tropical fruit, and apricots.  Even with all these flavors playing a part in a symphony of taste, Sculpin IPA manages to maintain a refreshingly clean drinkability. I have had the pleasure of drinking dozens, probably hundreds of IPAs in my time and Ballast Point Sculpin has consistently made an impression as one of the best (and the one pictured that I enjoyed on El Matador beach in Malibu, CA was no different). When it comes to IPAs, we expect very high quality from well-known Californian Breweries. With Sculpin, Ballast Point goes a step further than the rest to deliver a tried and true American IPA experience. ABV: 7%

Seller Description: A trophy beer that’s a testament to our homebrew roots. Our Sculpin IPA is a great example of what got us into brewing in the first place. After years of experimenting, we knew hopping an ale at five separate stages would produce something special. The result ended up being this gold-medal winning IPA, whose inspired use of hops creates hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon flavors, but still packs a bit of a sting, just like a Sculpin fish.

Bite Hard – Boonville Cider House – Boonville, CA

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Brew:  Bite Hard

Brewer:  Boonville Cider House

Style:  Cider  ABV 6.9%

Bite Hard pours a beautiful shadowy gold with a nose of crisp fermented apple.  This cider is made with heirloom organic apples from California and fermented to a healthy 6.9% ABV.  The taste of apple accompanies the bite during the first sip and lingers on the palate after the finish.  The apple flavor is so deep and rich that it makes the mouth water and drips with authenticity.  There are also refreshingly natural notes of citrus and lemon that add to the complexity of the taste. The tart and dry up front bite is accompanied by an unexpected and welcome lack of sweetness.  This is a connoisseurs cider, one that does not need to hide behind sugar and artificial flavoring to please.  One of the most satisfying elements of Bite Hard is the utter originality of the taste.  Boonville cider house has cultivated a respectable persona with Bite Hard, this is a cider that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.

Seller Description:  Bite Hard Apple Cider is a crisp, semi dry cider, slow fermented from heirloom apples in an English tradition. Made from tannic and full bodied fruit, this cider carries its distinctive BITE with a clean and unique apple finish and citrus notes. We take the time to seek out and preserve the best that Autumn has to offer.

JDubs Brewing Company – UP TOP IPA – Sarasota, FL

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Brew:  UP TOP! IPA

Brewer:  JDub’s Brewing Company

Style:  American IPA  ABV 6.5%

UP TOP IPA pours an auburn orange with a white head.  The nose is piney with a floral quality and citrus undertones.  The taste is a testament to Jai Alai IPA but with character all its own.  The hops are present but not overpowering, there are notes of caramel, malt, and a melange of citrus.  This is one solid IPA, and a welcome addition to what South Florida has to offer.  JDubs has made Sarasota proud, if you have a chance visit the brewery have an UP TOP, play some cornhole, and be sure to sample their latest libation.  UP TOP has drinkability but doesn’t sacrifice flavor, body, or originality to achieve it. (ABV 6.5%)

Seller Description: A sessionable India Pale Ale that doesn’t slap you in the face with bitterness.  Negatron – this one inspires to find your closest pals or the person next to you at the bar and give ’em a big ol “UP TOP!”

Oskar Blues Brewery – GUBNA Imperial IPA – Brevard, NC

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DSC_0948-2Brew:  GUBNA Imperial IPA

Brewer:  Oskar Blues Brewery

Style:  Imperial IPA 10%

2014 GUBNA pours a crisp golden orange with a nose that smells of citrus and pineapple.  The flavors are pronounced with a great deal of hoppiness but underlying clarity that is extremely refreshing.  Fresh grapefruit is prominent along with citrus/lemon zest and warmth from herbs and spices.  There are also notes of dark fruit, malt and caramel that add to the complexity of this beer.  Oskar Blues GUBNA was my true introduction to Imperial IPAs about 6 years ago.  It wasn’t my first experience with Imperials but it was a truly eye opening one.  No Imperial IPA ever enlightened me to the possibilities of this style like GUBNA.  Every year GUBNA changes but it is always true to its roots as a hoppy but refreshing unpredictably amazing beer. (ABV 10%)

Seller Description: GUBNA is packed with Rye and North American Pale Malt and accented with Munich Malt to give a spicy and flavorful backbone to support loads of kettle hops driving the IBUs to triple digits.  The 2014 GUBNA Seasonal is dry hopped with copious amounts of Sorachi Ace, Chinook and Mosaic hops creating a dank, dense nose and unique blend of lemon zest, red berries, spice, peach and herbs through a clean bitter finish.  (10 percent ABV, 100+ IBUs).

Hot Little Miami Tart – Stone Brewing Co. / J. Wakefield – Escondito, CA

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IMG_1558Incredible collaboration. Pours a gentle orange with an opaque tan hue.  The nose is acidic and makes the mouth water, it also smells of peppers and tropical fruit.  The taste is intense and complex for a Berliner Weiss.  The flavor encompasses slight heat and spiciness from the peppers and gives way to citrus and lush tropical fruit.  The tartness in this Berliner is rich with lemon and intense in the most pleasing way.  The fruit, the peppers, and the tartness are all very pronounced flavors but they seem to balance one another perfectly.  Light carbonation makes this Berliner Weissbier truly pleasing to the senses.  Hot Little Miami Tart is a collaboration between Stone Brewing Company in California and J. Wakefield Brewing in Miami Florida.  This sour beer is quite the success and illustrates why collaborations and creative recipes are making the world of craft beer exciting and progressive.  This is a great take on a Berliner Weissbier and definitely does the style justice. ABV 4.0%